We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used most of the most recent transfers to pay my rent for the month because I was unable to raise the money from the casual jobs that I currently depend on. I used the rest to purchase a new dress for my daughter as a Christmas gift.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I had a movie shop before getting enrolled in the program, which was my main source of income. The business however collapsed after some of the crucial equipment I used were destroyed by a power surge due to poor electrical connection. I could not raise enough money for the repair of the equipment and still manage to provide for my family, so I opted to close down the shop and look for an alternative source of income which has been casual jobs. I have not been making much from these jobs because they are mostly unavailable, so I am planning to do all I can to revive the previous movie shop business by sacrificing to ensure that I repair the equipment. These transfers will help me in paying for the repair charges which is why I need to do it before the end of the program.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having no stable source of income after the collapse of my movie shop business has made it difficult for me to provide for my family, especially because the casual jobs I currently depend on are irregular. The transfers have made it possible for my family to overcome the tough periods when there are no jobs at all by ensuring that we get food and even pay the rent on time.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had a movie-shop business, but it collapsed after all my equipment were destroyed by an electric surge. Due to my financial crisis, I could not buy all the required equipment to keep the business alive so I had to quit and look for alternative ways of getting income. This is when I decided to get into construction work as it was the easiest job I could lay my hands on. For the past one month though, I have not had any jobs because the site I was working at had to be closed down for unknown reasons and my efforts to get other jobs have been futile since then. The money I received was mostly used to pay the rent and some of it spent on household needs as I had no income at all that month and taking care of such was quite a challenge.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My goal has always been to revive my movie shop business that collapsed after all my machines were destroyed by a power-surge which has forced me to turn to construction jobs for income. I am hoping that I will be able to save enough to buy most of the equipment even though it has been very tough because I mostly have no income and have to depend on the transfers entirely.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After I lost my business, I had to switch to casual house construction jobs to get some income. Life has not been so easy because the jobs have been very irregular and mostly pay very little. Most at times, they are completely unavailable and I am left with no income at all making it quite tough to provide for my family. The difference this program has brought in my life is the financial support that has kept me going even when I have no income. I have been able to provide for my family and pay my rent on time and avoiding being kicked out for delayed rent payments which I am sure would have happened were it not for the transfers.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($49 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had not paid for house rent at the time when the recent transfer was sent because I didn't have money to pay for the rent because I had just lost my job leaving me with no source of income. I, therefore, used part of it to pay for the house rent so that the landlord couldn't harass me for not paying rent on time. A portion of the money I used to purchase foodstuffs for the family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I lost my job towards the end of the last month leaving me jobless with no source of income because I didn't have any side hustle. Being the head of the family, my family relies on me for everything and therefore I have to look for a way of providing to them the basic needs. I, therefore, have a new goal of starting up a cyber cafe business so that I can have a source of income which will enable me to meet my family's needs.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In as much as I was employed, the income I used to earn wasn't enough to meet most of my needs and in most cases, I could borrow loans to boost me. I'm happy things changed and life became better when I started receiving the GD transfers. This is because I have been using GD transfers to meet most of the family's needs thus reducing the load I had previously.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was asleep when the transfers came in. I only woke up to the good news and I was really excited. I could not wait to have them in cash as I rushed to a nearby shop to withdraw the money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the most recent transfers on Paying rent of KES 2500
shopping for household items at KES 2500. I have my own business that takes care of all the other needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my I have used most of the transfers to expand my movie business. I moved the business to a place with a lager clients base. My business is now bigger and better. I meet my needs easily and as soon as it picks up well I am going to relocate to a better estate to live in.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I dropped out in my first-year n college due to lack of college fees. The transfers have really boosted my business and from the proceeds, I get I am planning to go back to school to complete my college education.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I usually go to school that is college after that I operate my cyber business.While in my free time I do play rugby and goes to church on Sunday then after that I do relax in the house.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to be a successful entrepreneur and to be able to create job to other Mathare youths and to have financial freedom.
Describe your biggest worry.
Violence is my main worry because through it, my business is always affected as people loot and business destroyed and disrupted. Mathare is unfortunately known for violence especially in elections. I also worry about calamities like fire that at times raze down houses and business leaving one with nothing and fires are prown in these areas. I also do worry about unemployment which rampant among the Mathare youths as there is no stable source of income in the area leaving youths jobless and resorting in to crimes.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have chosen to use this money to expand on my current cyber business by buying more computers to add on the few ones I have so far. This will increase the level of ICT literacy among the youths. I will also use another portion to pay for my part time school fees since education is power.I will lastly use the rest to invest in a new business of shoes selling since there is a ready market for shoes and this will give me good profit.